As April rolls around, it’s that time again when the valley heats up and the chaos begins. Influencers, celebrities and musicians prepare for the two biggest weekends in music festival history, attracting 250,000-400,000 attendees annually across the two weekends. The twenty-fifth annual festival also anticipates participants and watchers from home; welcome back, Coachella.
Coachella is a massive annual music festival held in Indio, California, spanning over two weekends in April. It is one of the most famous and profitable festivals in the world, hosting diverse artists and setting trends that play a role in influencing pop culture.
In the first week of January, many captions such as “happy 2016,” and “wake up, it’s 2016” popped up across social media feeds. Why are we suddenly so obsessed with 2016 and why does this relate to Coachella? In 2016, platforms were simple, easy and less strategic. The internet felt like a funny and shared experience rather than a plan for profit.
Social media coined the term “2026 is the new 2016.” With music, fashion, and an overall vibe of the media during the year. 2016 Coachella is known as one of the most iconic years in the festival’s history. Outfits including flower crowns and round sunglasses with a “hippie” vibe took over the fairgrounds, and it’s not a stretch to say we can expect to see something similar in 2026.
According to fashion influencer Alex Ballard, in a video posted on TikTok on April 2, 2026, there are 12 possible trends expected to be seen at Coachella 2026. Here’s a few. We can expect lots of sheer; tassels; fringe; crochet; statement jewelry; and vintage accessories.
Festival fashion is ever evolving, and goes well beyond the simplicity of everyday outfits. While surrounded by celebrities and influencers at big fashion events like Coachella, it can be easy to lose our own sense of style. Reminding ourselves that fashion is a form of self expression can help us stay confident and embrace our individuality. Stepping out of daily routines and exploring personality through fashion is one of the biggest perks of music festivals. Everyone is taking time choosing the most fabulous outfits without the fear of societal norms on the fairgrounds.
This year, the weather in Indio, California, where Coachella is held, is going to be unusual. In an overview from The Desert Sun, a Palm Springs News and Weather outlet, predict chilly nights, possible rain and highs of 80 and lows of 50 degrees at night. The last time it rained at Coachella was in 2012 with light drizzle. As the festival is typically high temperatures and dry. The unusual weather might make some struggle to re-style their festival outfits to be more temperature appropriate.
Weekend one of Coachella 2026 begins April 10 and ends April 12. Weekend two spans from April 17 to April 19., with headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G. There are over 150 performers set to take the stage at the festival this year and we will see the same artists across both weekends performing. The most anticipated performers of Coachella 2026 according to “The Rolling Stone” are Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter and Katseye.
All eyes have been on Katseye recently, as the girl group releases hit after hit including “Gabriela” and “Gnarly.” The girls have been on the world stage for almost two years now, but they are just getting started, and Coachella will begin to change the trajectory of their success.
Sabrina Carpenter’s career skyrocketed in 2024 after her hit song “Espresso.” Carpenter, who has performed at Coachella before in 2024, comes back a second time to headline as she promised, “Coachella, see you back here when I headline.” Musically, festival-goers are overwhelmed with the variety of artists in attendance, and viewers remain excited to watch upcoming performances.
Coachella isn’t just about the music, the brands activate the festivals trajectory and outcome of success as well. Some major brands attending the festival will be Redbull, Aperol, Erewhon and Rhode, bringing together beauty brands, energy drinks and alcoholic beverages to support the festival’s attendees.
Rhode, founded in 2022 by Hailey Bieber, partners with Coachella and is expected to showcase new products with her husband in new drop “Rhode X The Biebers,” coining the term “Bieberchella.” These products include limited edition pimple patches, a new lip peptide and undereye patches. Many love the brand and its media presence, and products sell out almost instantly. It will be exciting to see new promotions, themes and products this year.
We talk a lot about the activities and vibe of Coachella, but there are more factors to be looked at during the festival. Coachella offers car camping spots on the fairgrounds, with 10 by 30 feet of space and allowing as many people in your spot as you can fit. Car camping passes cost $149 + fees for the entire weekend and many take their space seriously, bringing plants, couches and rugs to make their space comfortable and fit the eccentric vibe of Coachella.
But of course, if you’re not into the “glamping” aspect of the festival, Airbnbs are the basis of Coachella hospitality. Ranging from $1,000 a night to villas being $219,000 for four nights. Even RV’s near Coachella are $12,300 a night. The prices are shocking, yes, but for such an influencer and celebrity heavy event, it makes sense for hosts to raise prices for the anticipated weekends.
Many attendees have reported their Airbnb’s to be canceled a week before they are set to attend the event. People who have booked months or even a year before have come out and said their Airbnb’s have been canceled and relisted for a higher price on the Airbnb website. Other guests have been told by renters that they lack permits to rent out the home or that homeowners are selling the property. Any excuse leaves guests stressed, and more than likely having to spend much more money closer to the event because of these cancellations, even if they booked months or years ahead of time.
As the festival comes to a start, we can expect outfits, music and the 2016 nostalgia that the festival is bound to bring. Between weather changes, outfits, brands and camping drama, we are at that time where Coachella takes over the media and the desert erupts in sounds of instrumentals and laughter.
